Godwin Withers
 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | British (English) |
| Born | 28 September 1884 Holborn, London, england |
| Died | 5 February 1976 (aged 91) Dover, England |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Athletics |
| Event | racewalking |
| Club | Railway Clearing House AC |
Godwin Robert James Withers (28 September 1884 – 5 February 1976) was an English track and field athlete who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics.
Career
Withers was born in Holborn, London.[1] He was a railway worker and member of the Railway Clearing House.[2] He began walking races in 1903. In May 1910 he was one of the prominent competitors in the 25 miles track record race when he finished sixth in 3 hours 44 minutes.[2] In the two miles AAA Championship he came fourth in 14 minutes 25 seconds. He was a London railways walking champion.[2] In total he wont 50 prizes and 30 medals. He also took part in cross-country races winning the North of Thames Championship.[2]
Withers represented Great Britain at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London,[3][4] where he was eliminated in the first round of the 10 mile walk competition.[1] His final race was in 1921 when he finished eighth in the 7 mile walk.[1]
Vegetarianism
Withers was a vegetarian and member of the Vegetarian Cycling and Athletic Club.[2][5] He won the Vegetarian Caterers Challenge Cup 30 mile road walk race between Highgate and Hatfield in 1910.[6][7] In 1911, Withers attended the Vegetarian Cycling and Athletic Club's annual dinner held at the Food Reform Restaurant in London.[8]
References
- ^ a b c "Godwin Withers". Olympedia. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
- ^ a b c d e "Withers, the Walker". Athletic News. 24 July 1911. p. 7.
- ^ "Olympic Games, Britain's team of athletes". Liverpool Daily Post. 12 June 1908. Retrieved 11 April 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "The Olympic Games, British Representatives". The Sportsman. 12 June 1908. Retrieved 11 April 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Vegetarian Champions Feted". Cycling. 13 January 1909. p. 31.
- ^ "Vegetarian 30 Miles Walk". The Sporting Life. 30 May 1910. p. 2.
- ^ "Topics of the Track". The Leicester Mail. 4 June 1910. p. 7.
- ^ "Vegetarian Athletes". The Morning Leader. 31 March 1911. p. 5.
External links
- Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Godwin Withers". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 23 January 2015.
- profile
- Godwin Withers at Olympedia